Saliva ejector and reflector



Feb. l?, 1948. H. FRIEDMAN 2,436,040

SALIVA EJECTOR AND REFLEQTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1947 v mvr-:NToR l' 9 kHENRY FRIEDMAN ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, -1948 OFFICE SALIVA EJECTORAND REFLECTOR Henry Friedman, Chicago, Ill. Application February 21,1947, Serial No. 729,953

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a saliva drain or ejector ofthe type commonly placed in a patients mouth during a dental operation.y.

The heretofore used type of saliva ejectors usually comprised a benttube, one end of which was placed in the patients mouth, the other endbeing connected to a vacuum system contained in the dental unit. Theopen end of the tube, which was placed in the patients mouth, usuallydrew into the mouth of the tube a part of the soft tissue contained' inthe mouth and caused extreme discomfort and, further, completely orpartially blocked the tube opening and consequently, preventingentirely, or greatly impeding, the passage of saliva through the tube.The heretofore used ejectors were a one-purpose instrument and oiferednoaid to the dental operation except to remove the saliva from thepatients mouth. It was to overcome these and other inherent defects thatthe present invention was conceived.

, The main objects of `this invention are to provide a saliva ejectorwhich will prevent the soft tissue in the mouth from being drawn intothe instrument when placed in a patients mouth during use; to provide adevice of this character which will act as a reflector; to provide adevice of this character which vwill also function as a tongueretractor; to provide a device of this character having a highlypolished front and back surface, both of which will act equally well asa mirror or reflector; to provide a device of this vcharacter having abaille plate in front of the saliva intake apertures; to provide adevice of this character having the saliva intake end thereof offsetfrom the handle portion; to provide a device of this character having noexposed sharp or rough edges; to provide a device of this characterwhich can be easily and readily sterilized; and to provide a device ofthis character which is relatively simple in construction andinexpensive to manufacture.

A .speciilc embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing aportion thereof broken away and in cross section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the saliva intake and mirroredend of the device.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

2 Fig. 7 is'an enlarged edge View ofthe head, part of the drain tubebeing shown broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the lmproved saliva ejectorcomprises a metal tube, bent substantially in L-shape having arelatively long leg I and a laterally extending shorter leg-2. A metalhandle or hand grip memberV 3,` almost completely enveloping the leg I,is square shaped in cross section and tapered toward the leg 2 andintegrally secured to the leg I intermediate the ends thereof in anysuitable manner, s'uch as by Welding, soldering or the like. Scoreddepressions or nger grips 1 and 8 are positioned on either side of theforward end of the body 3 adjacent the collar 6. The free end of theshort leg 2 is provided with a diagonal face as indicated generally bythe-'numeral 9 and clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.

The drain or saliva-receiving head is formed from a piece of metaltubing I 0 and is of the same diameter as the leg 2. The tube Ill ispreferably bent in oval form and has the free ends thereof joined toform a continuous passage. The tube I 0 is provided with an Velongatedaperture Il, positioned on one side thereof. The `free end of tube leg 2is secured to the margin of the aperture lII in any suitable manner,such as by weldingfsoldering or the like, whereby a continuous passageis formed between the oval shaped tube I0 and the tubular legs I and 2.It Vwill be apparent that the tube I0, when secured tothe end 9 of leg2, will be oiis'et in a diagonal plane from the longitudinal plane ofthe leg 2 land will depend therefrom.

A plurality of diagonally positioned ports I 2 are positioned in thetube I0 and in the portion directly opposite to the portionv at whichthe leg 2 is attached thereto, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. Abaille plate I3, preferably formed of a 'non'- corroding metal, having aplurality of apertures, or perforations I4 therein, is rigidly securedto the face of the drain tube I0 in any suitable manner, such as bywelding, or the like, and covers a portion thereof. As illustrated, thebaille plate is positioned on the tube I0 adjacent the point containingthe ports I2.

' A thin ilat disc or wafer I5, preferably formed of a non-corrodingmetal and highly polished on both surfaces to form a double mirror orrellector, is rigidly secured Within the inner area of the oval-shapedtube I0 and thereto, in any suitable manner such as by welding orbrazing or the like.

In the operation. the free end of the leg I is attached to the draintube of the vacuum system. which is a part of all standard dental units,in the conventional manner. The oval-shaped tube I is placed in thepatents mouth so that the body thereof lies under and retracts thepatients tongue and between and below the lower gums of the patient.Accumulated saliva in this pocket will flow over the top of the baffleplate I3 and/or through the perforations N and into the ports l2,whereby it will be drawn out of the mouth by Athe vacuum ssysternthrough 'the legs l and 2 Vand tube wand disposed of in the usualmanner. It will be understood that the leg 2 rests on the lower teeth ofthe patient and-the leg l depends therefrom in substantially a ver ticalplane, as is usual with all types of saliva ejectors.

It will be apparent that since thesuction action takes place at theports I2 and these ports are completely housed behind the baille :platel, the soft tissues in the mouth cannot be drawn intojithe .ports l2..-It willalso .beseen `that all salivarpassing -ever ,the Ytcp edge ofthe "baille ,plate -l er through the gperforations .f4 vwill.aczcumulate :in -the pocket 4farmed :by .the .tube lll, lthefaceepfithe disc .15 and-*the rear :face ofthe matite Vlplate '4.3-Whereby .it will :readily rbc drawn zintorthemcrts -I2.

- The polished=disc IrSfmayV-be usedas :a rccnvenetionalidental mirrorcr vmay -.be .used r`as `a. `reflecftor l.te concentrate ,more .lightSin the Epatents .'mouth, as'willibe apparent.

It :is sto .be understood that ...all 4minis V.confnecting ithe #variousparts o Vthe vdevice l.together .are sallgperfectly `.smcoth .soithatthere willbe .no sdarrgercof-.cuttingtnr .tearing thezrnouth or .lips.fand-rtiispreferredthattheentire devicebe coated with satrust-.resisting polished material such as chrome plate or the like,wherebymashing and s-sterilization fof 1the yinstrument :may bejaciiiztated.

Althoughfbut Vone specicl-embodimenthasy been sshownfandfdescribed,itfis to be understood that k:details .may be altered oromitted withoutdeparting fromzthe spirit cf .this invention. ias Ide- :fined-.by,theffollowiug claims.

LA 'device of -the character described )come .prising -a :relativelydong =tube .a .relatively short ftube .integrally ysecured to one .end-of said 'long =ztube= extendnglaterallytherefrom and-.communifcatingwith .the interior Ythereof; .annual-.shaped dubesecuredtothe. freeL endof said shorttube. said tubes .having ai continuous unintt rruptedgpassage therethrough, said oval-shaped tube-havngfa .plurrality .afports located '.diametricallyopposite `.the .point of attachment `ofsaid -short tube vto :said .oyaleshaped gtube; Aa pclished` discVrigidly secured medially Vto the :inner-.marginal edge of said oval-`shaped:tube a-.at :baiile;plate havingia plurality of spacedperforations therein rigidly secured to the face of said oval-shapedtube and extending thereacross at a point immediately adjacent saidports.

2. A device of the character described comprislng a relatively longtube, a laterally extending short tube communicating with and attachedat one end to said long tube, a third tube bent in oval-shape and havinga plurality of ports there- "in, fthefreefend o-f said Vshort ltube"being rigidly secured 'to ysaidfoval tube yat a point diametrlcallyopposite said ports, allof said tubes having a common passagewaytherethrough communicat- ,ing iwithreach other, a polished disc, themarginal edges thereof rigidly secured to the inner iperipheral .edgesof said oval-shaped tube; a baille plate integrallysecured to and acrossa portion of said 4oval tube 4adjacent to and in front of rsaidjports,and a hollow 'tapered handle integrally secured to said .long tubeintermediate of v.the ends thereaf. K

114A device `of the .character described comprising .a hollow handle.having an `outlet `port therein, a laterally extending tube, oneendthereof being .integrally secured to .the :end of `said-handleoppos'te .said outlet .port andhavingcommunicaticn'therewith,reilectingimeans rigidlysecure'd'to the vfreeend .of said tube; hollowmeans on .said reflecting means 'havingcommunication with said tube whereby .a continuous 5passageis'formed'tosaid outlet port, a drain .port 1in .said hollow means, 'andabeille plate securedinfront of said drainvport and tc said'hollowmeans.

f4. 'A 'device of v.the character .described .comprising 'in/combinationwith a retractor means, .a reflector, and Na saliva-carrying meanscombinedin a unitarystructure; ahollow 'handlesecured to saidsaliva-.carrying means, apassage-y way 'in said saliva-carrying meanscommuni- 'cating'withthe interior of saidhandle, .said handle having vanoutlet in .one end thereof, .a drain port in said saliva-'carryingmeans, and a Abaille lplate in front ofsaid port andi-secured to .saidsaliva-'carrying means, said baiflieplatelying par `tially.acrossAsaid-.re'flecton HENRY LERIEDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing Vreferences are of record .in -the

